Scott Andrews - School_s Out

He gestured to his colleague to take over, and resumed his seat. Hammond stood and surveyed the room, scanning our faces, mentally noting which of us he knew, seeing who had survived and who, by omission, had not.

"Boys, it's good to be back. It's good to see so many of you again. It gives me hope that…" He trailed off, momentarily overcome.

"Preston and Grant lived near me in Sevenoaks, and they both arrived at my house together a few days ago. It was my suggestion that we return here. If we'd stayed where we were, maybe… Anyway, we ran out of petrol just as we entered Hildenborough. But it's only an hour's walk to the school so we weren't worried. Grant was hungry so we stopped at a newsagent's and rummaged around for something to eat. The place had been pretty thoroughly cleaned out, but we found chocolate bars underneath an overturned cupboard. We considered ourselves lucky, and set off again. But within minutes there was a hue and cry. The shout 'looter' went up and we saw a man running towards us, so we just ran for our lives.

"Preston knows the area very well and thanks to him we were able to elude our pursuers, although we never seemed able to completely shake them off. They finally caught up with us at the gate and you know the rest.

"If it hadn't been for Matron and MacKillick here…" Again he trailed off into silence.

You would have expected Hammond to have been grateful to the man who had saved his life, but the look he flashed Mac was one of distaste and suspicion.

Bates stood again, thanked Hammond, and handed the floor to Mac with an alarming degree of deference. Norton and I exchange worried glances. Mac had cleaned up and changed his uniform, but he still sported combats and camouflage.

"Thank you, sir" he said, with perhaps the tiniest hint of sarcasm. "I'll be brief. Fleming, McCulloch and me left this morning to scavenge in Hildenborough. As you know the shops have all been cleaned out, so we had to go house to house. Not the prettiest work. Those houses that haven't already been got at have normally still got occupants. You need a strong stomach."

What a smug, self-satisfied, aren't-I-hard sod he was.

"We found one house full of stuff we could use and we started carrying it out to the minibus. I was inside when I heard shouting. I went to the window and saw three men, all carrying guns, coming at McCulloch and Fleming. Our boys weren't armed, they'd been surprised, they didn't stand a chance. I watched as they were led away and then I followed, dodging house to house and keeping out of sight. They took the lads to a big house down a side road, an old manor house I think. I didn't even have time to sneak up and look through a window before they were brought out again. The three men and a new guy, some posh lord of the manor type in tweeds and stuff. They led our boys round the side of the house and I followed, hiding behind the hedges. And there, like it was the most normal thing in the world to have in your garden, was a gallows.

"McCulloch started screaming, so they did him first. It was all over in an instant. Then they did Fleming. He'd wet himself before they even put the noose around his neck."

Bloody hell, Mac. No need for the fucking details. I clenched my fists angrily. He was enjoying this.

"I didn't stick around after that. But as I was leaving town I saw some guys putting up a new fence across the road and a sign saying 'Hildenborough Protectorate. Governor: George Baker. Traders welcomed. Looters hanged.'

"I had to try another way out of town and found guards posted at all the exit points around the perimeter. So I dealt with one of them and came back here. Just in time too, I reckon."

'Dealt with one of them'. That explained the blood on his jacket. So he'd killed three people today and he looked for all the world like he was having the time of his life. I felt sick.

He sat back down and Bates took the floor again.

"Boys, I know this is hard, but we have to accept the reality that we may be, um, at war."

There were murmurs of disbelief.

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but consider the facts. A hostile force has established a base of operations practically on our doorstep. They've killed two of us and wounded two more; we've killed three of them. We know they're armed, entrenched, and determined. We must assume they will attack, and we must be ready."

I raised my hand to ask why he thought they'd attack.

"Put your hand down, Keegan," he barked. "I didn't throw the floor open to questions. And that goes for everyone. If we're to survive this we need to be focused, united, organised. There needs to be a clear chain of command and all orders will need to be followed promptly and without question. Is that clear?"

"Well, really," said the Dinner Lady. "I don't expect to be talked to like that."

"Ma'am," snapped Bates. "You are welcome to remain at St Mark's but I am in charge here and if you accept my protection I'm afraid you accept my rules."

And just like that Bates declared martial law.

I looked over at Mac. His face was solemn but his eyes told a different story. They shone with glee.

Hammond spoke up.

"I say Bates, are you quite sure you need to…"

Bates leaned forward and hissed something peremptory at Hammond, who fell silent.

He went on: "We need to secure our perimeter, post guards, organise patrols and so forth. To this end we are re-establishing the CCF and every boy will be expected to do their bit."

Broadbent raised his hand and began bleating before Bates could stop him.

"But sir, I was excused CCF because of my asthma. My dad wrote a note and everything."

"I said no questions, boy!" Bates yelled. "And no excuses either. If you're old enough to dress yourself you're old enough to carry a gun."

You could feel the shock in the room as everybody's eyes widened and their shoulders stiffened. Bates breathed deeply and visibly calmed himself.

"I know it's not how we want things to be, but it's the way things are," he reasoned. "It's my job, and Mac's, to keep you safe. I failed in that today. Not again.

"As of now you will all refer to me as Colonel and Mac as Major. Is that clear?"

I wanted to laugh in his face. I wanted to stand up and shout "Are you fucking joking? You're a history teacher, you deluded tinpot tosser". But I didn't. It was all too tragic for that. Tragic and – I glanced at Mac – sinister.

"I said is that clear?"

Some boys muttered "yes, Colonel" unenthusiastically. I thought Bates was going to push it, but he must have realised the time wasn't yet right.

"Good," he said. "Now, I want Speight, Pugh, Wylie, Wolf-Barry, Patel, Green, Zayn and Keegan to stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed for the evening."

Norton whispered "Good luck" as he got up to leave. Everybody else shuffled out leaving myself, Bates, Mac and the six other boys whose names had been called. They were all the remaining sixth-formers; I was the only non sixth-former there.

When everyone else had left, Bates gestured for us all to come and sit together at the front, and sat to address us.

"You're the senior boys here, and a lot of the responsibility of this is going to rest with you. We'll be assigning ranks in the coming days but for now you'll all be acting corporals. Major Mac will be managing you directly and I want you to follow his orders promptly and without question at all times. Is that clear?"

"Yes Colonel."

"Good lads," said Bates. He smiled what he probably thought was a reassuring smile, but he actually looked more like a scared man presenting his teeth to a sadistic dentist. He patted Mac on the shoulder.

"All yours, Major," he said, and left the room.

Mac glared at us and grinned a sly, feral grin. He didn't look impressed by us, but he did look pleased with himself. He pulled his chair around so that he was facing us.